Can punching and sealing means



April 3 0), 1935.

A. SWEDELAND CAN PUNCHING AND SEALING MEANS Filed Dec. 5, 1933 lllllll mya.

UT L

Fix. 5.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNI-TED STATES PATENT QFFEQE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to means for punching holes in the tops of cans so as to permit the removal of the liquids disposed in the cans.

An object of this invention is to provide a can 5 punching means which is exceedingly simple in construction and which embodies features whereby the device can be left on the can after a part of the material has been removed therefrom and the device will act as a sealing means to seal the holes punched through by the punching members carried by the device.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kind which includes means to permit the ready removal of the device from the top of a can while not taking up a great amount of space so that the device can be left on a can and placed in a storage space and objects placed in the storage space relatively close to the can.

The above and various other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be described and in part be understood from the fol lowing detailed description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device constructed according to the embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional View partly in detail taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and showing the device before the points are forced through the top of the can.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the points projected through the top.

Figure 4 is a detail side elevation of the device partly turned so as to show the can piercing members.

Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the device with the top of the can shown in fragmentary form.

Referring to the drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter C designates a can which is provided with a top T secured thereto in any desired manner. The can shown herein is shown merely diagrammatically or as a matter of illustration to show the manner in which the device hereinafter described is applied.

In cans, particularly condensed milk cans, or the like, where it is desired to remove the milk from the can, it is desirable that holes be made on opposite sides of the top so that the liquid can be poured through the holes in one side and air permitted to enter in the hole or holes on the opposite side.

In order, therefore, to provide a means whereby the top T of the can may be pierced at desired points, I have provided a clamping member it in the form of a flat bar which is bent in the form of a segment and is of a length substantially greater than half a circle so that when the clamp iii is disposed in the side wall of the can C, the clamp will firmly engage the side wall.

An upstanding arm l l is integral with the clamp it and is disposed at a point inwardly from one free end of the clamp iii. This arm ii projects upwardly and terminates in an inwardly extending plate i2 which has one edge portion it thereof projecting beyond the peripheral portion of the can 0. This projecting portion 83 provides a handle or grasping means whereby the device may be lifted off of the can when desired. A can piercing member M is secured to the plate l2 and this can piercing member i i is preferably of tapering construction terminating in a relatively sharp point so that the top of the can can be readily pierced when the plate is pressed downwardly.

A second arm I5 is secured to or integral with the resilient clamp ill and is disposed at a point spaced from the first arm i i and is provided with a horizontally disposed plate 26 extending inwardly over the top of the can T and provided with a pair of can piercing members i l disposed in spaced relation to each other and positioned substantially diametrically opposite from the can piercing member i 4. These can piercing members l'i provide pouring openings in the top of the can whereas the single piercing member M provides an air hole in the top of the can. The plate is also has a projecting marginal portion 5 8 projecting beyond the periphery of the can C so as to facilitate the lifting of the device off of the top of the can and this projecting portion i8 coacts with the projecting portion 3 to permit the ready removal of the devices from the can.

In the use of this device, the resilient clamping member H2 is initially disposed about the periphery of the can adjacent one end thereof and the two plates l2 and B6 are disposed in spaced relation to the top T of the can with the points of the piercing members M and If confronting the top of the can The plates l2 and it may then be pressed firmly toward the top T of the can, which action will cause the piercing members l4 and H to project through the top of the can. The device can then be lifted off of the can by grasping the projecting edge portions l3 and E8 of the plates l2 and it, respectively, and lifting the device upwardly. The can may then be tilted with the opening formed by the piercing member I l uppermost and the material poured out of the openings formed by the pair of piercing members ll.

Where it is desired to seal the openings formed in the top of the can, the device can be replaced on the can and the piercing members Hi and I! replaced in the original openings formed thereby and the can may then be placed in a suitable storage space and as the projecting portions l3 and I8 do not project unduly beyond the periphery of the can, the device when used as a sealing means will not take up a great amount of space as would be the case where a projecting handle is provided.

It is, of course, understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. A device as set forth comprising an elongated curved bar having a length substantially greater than a half circle, a pair of arms integral with the bar and extending at right angles to the length of the bar, a plate integral with each arm and extending at a right angle to each arm and disposed inwardly of the top of a can when in applied position, a can piercing member carried by each plate, and a projecting portion integral with each plate projecting beyond the circle defined by the bar and providing means to facilitate removal of the device from the top of a can.

2. A device as set forth comprising an elongated fiat longitudinally curved bar substantially greater than a half circle, a pair of right angularly related arms integral with the: barand disposed in spaced relation to each other and positioned at a point intermediate each end of the bar, a relatively large plate integral with each arm and disposed at a right angle relative thereto, each plate having a portion thereof adapted to overlie the top of a can and another portion projecting beyond the periphery of the can, said other portion providing a releasing means to facilitate release of the device from a can, a piercing member carried by one of the plates, and a pair of piercing members carried by the other of the plates in spaced relation to each other and disposed diametrically opposed to said first piercing member.

ADOLF SWEDELAND. 

